Ireland has been hit with record wind gusts of 114 miles (183 kilometers) an hour as a winter storm batters the country and northern parts of the U.K.

In the UK, employees have the legal right to take time off work to deal with unexpected emergencies involving dependents, such as a child. This includes situations like sudden school closures due to severe weather.

The Met Office issued the most severe possible warning for Friday between 10am and 5pm, forecasting 'flying debris resulting in danger to life'.